Contrary to online claims that a University of Lagos (UNILAG) student drowned while attempting a backflip, findings revealed that the deceased, Damilola Balogun, a 400-level student of the Department of Education, was swept away by ocean currents at a beach in Ibeju-Lekki.

Balogun, who was due to begin his teaching practice on Monday, was also the president-elect of the Nigerian Universities Education Students Association (NUESA), UNILAG chapter.

It was gathered that he had gone to the beach in the Idado community with other executive members of the association for a handover get-together.

According to sources, he was in the company of the outgoing executive members, the General Secretary and a few colleagues when tragedy struck on Thursday.

A close associate, who witnessed the incident but declined to be named, said Balogun ignored repeated warnings to stay away from the rising tides.

The source recounted, “The president-elect and other members went for a get-together with the outgoing executives. Since he had served as vice president in the last administration, he joined them for the handover party.

They went to Akodo in Idado, where they spent the night. By Thursday afternoon, only Balogun, the General Secretary, and the outgoing vice president were still around.

Around 2 p.m., after playing football, Balogun went towards the shoreline and asked the General Secretary to take pictures and videos of him. He was warned that the ocean current was too strong, but he insisted he wanted to ‘enjoy the village life’ a little longer.

At some point, the General Secretary left him at the shoreline because the waves were becoming overwhelming. Moments later, locals began shouting that Balogun was waving for help inside the water.”

Attempts by local divers to rescue him failed as strong currents pulled him under.

His body was eventually recovered two days later in the Museyo community, opposite the spot where he drowned. He was buried the same evening.

A 40-second eyewitness video sighted on Monday corroborated the account of the incident.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council, described Balogun as “a beacon of hope, an embodiment of courage, and a steadfast advocate for students’ rights and welfare.”

In a statement signed by its chairman and spokesperson, Abdul-Raheem Abdul-Quadri and Ridwan Ajayi, respectively, the association noted:

“He was a brave, strong, and dogged comrade, a shining light in the Lagos student movement. His life was marked by resilience, dedication, and a cheerful spirit that inspired everyone around him. Even in his final moments, he remained who he had always been — a fighter.”

When contacted, UNILAG spokesperson Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem declined to comment over the phone, requesting instead that inquiries be sent via text. As of press time, however, she had yet to respond.

This is not the first time such tragedy has occurred in Lagos. In 2022, four teenagers drowned at Elegushi Beach, Lekki, after going swimming to celebrate the completion of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination. The victims, aged between 14 and 15, were among 10 secondary school leavers at the outing when the incident happened.